Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of concanavalin A and cytochalasin B on pinocytotic activity inAmoeba proteus

  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Addition of concanavalin A to a suspension ofAmoeba proteus brings about cellular agglutination and the formation of what appear to be pinocytotic channels in cell surface projections. Although concanavalin A apparently brings about pinocytotic channel formation, it does not elicit bulk medium uptake or surface membrane turnover. Cytochalasin B brings about an initial cessation of locomotion and the development of a number of randomly distributed pseudopods. After a 30 to 45 minute exposure to cytochalasin B, the cells resume their normal appearance and pattern of locomotion. Cytochalasin B itself has no influence on inducing pinocytotic channel formation or membrane turnover, but when pinocytosis is induced with 0.01% alcian blue, pinocytotic activity is greatly intensified by the presence of cytochalasin B.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison, A. C., Davies, P., De Petris, S., 1971: Role of contractile microfilaments in macrophage movement and endocytosis. Nature New Biol.232, 153–155.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, B., 1977: Comparison of pinocytosis and phagocytosis inAcanthamoeba castellanii. Exp. Cell Res.110, 409–417.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, P. W., Freeman, A. R., 1967: Plasma membrane: substructural changes correlated with electric resistance and pinocytosis. Science155, 582–585.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, S. B., 1967: Effects of cytochalasins on mammalian cells. Nature213, 261–264.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman-Andresen, C., 1962: Studies on pinocytosis in amoebae. C. R. Lab. Carlsberg33, 73–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comly, L. T., 1973: Microfilaments inChaos carolinensis: membrane association, distribution, and heavy meromyosin binding in the glycerinated cell. J. Cell Biol.58, 230–237.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davies, P.,Allison, A. C.,Fox, R. I.,Polyzonis, M.,Hasvell, A. D., 1972: The exocytosis of polymorphonuclear-leucocyte lysosomal enzymes induced by cytochalasin B. Biochem. J.128, 78 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelman, G. M., Cunningham, B. A., Reeke, G. N., Jr., Becker, J. W., Waxdal, M. J., Wang, J. L., 1972: The covalent and three-dimensional structure of concanavalin A. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.69, 2580–2584.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edelson, P. J., Cohn, Z. A., 1974: Effects of concanavalin A on mouse peritoneal macrophages. I. Stimulation of endocytotic activity and inhibition of phagolysosome formation. J. exp. Med.140, 1364–1386.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, I. J., Hollerman, C. E., Smith, E. E., 1965: Protein-carbohydrate interaction. II. Inhibition studies on the interaction of concanavalin A and polysaccharides. Biochemistry4, 876–883.

    Google Scholar 

  • Josefsson, J.-O., 1968: Induction and inhibition of pinocytosis inAmoeba proteus. Acta physiol. scand.73, 481–490.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kletzien, R. F.,Perdue, J. F., The inhibition of sugar transport in chick embryo fibroblasts by cytochalasin B. Evidence for a membrane specific effect. J. biol. Chem.248, 711–719.

  • Klein, H. P., Stockem, W., 1979: Pinocytosis and locomotion of amoeba. XII. Dynamics and motive force generation during pinocytosis inAmoeba proteus. Cell Tissue Res.197, 263–279.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J. M., Nachmias, V. T., 1965: Cell surface and pinocytosis. J. Histochem. Cytochem.13, 92–104.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orci, L., Gabbay, K. H., Malaisse, W. J., 1972: Pancreatic beta-cell web: its possible role in insulin secretion. Science175, 1128–1130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ose, L., Ose, T., Reinertsen, R., Berg, T., 1980: Fluid endocytosis in isolated rat parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells. Exp. Cell Res.126, 109–119.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott, D. M., James, T. W., 1955: Culturing ofAmoeba proteus onTetrahymena. Exp. Cell Res.8, 256–258.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prusch, R. D., 1980: Endocytotic sucrose uptake inAmoeba proteus induced with the calcium ionophore A 23187. Science209, 691–692.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —,Hannatin, J., 1979 a: Calcium distribution inAmoeba proteus. J. gen. Physiol.74, 511–521.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • — —, 1979 b: Sucrose by pinocytosis inAmoeba proteus and the influence of external calcium. J. gen. Physiol.74, 523–535.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, J., 1978: Compensatory membrane biogenesis and exocytosis as a result of concanavalin-A-induced membrane internalization. Exp. Cell Res.114, 31–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, A. R., Kaufman, A. E., 1974: Concanavalin-A-induced agglutination ofAcahthamoeba. Nature252, 43–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, R., Rosenberg, M., Estensen, R., 1971: Endocytosis in Chang liver cells. Quantitation by sucrose-3H uptake and inhibition by cytochalasin B. J. Cell Biol.50, 804–817.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wills, E. J., Davies, P., Allison, A. C., Haswell, A. D., 1972: Cytochalasin B fails to inhibit pinocytosis by macrophages. Nature New Biol.240, 58–60.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Rhode Island College, 02908, Providence, RI, USA

    R. D. Prusch

Authors
  1. R. D. Prusch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Prusch, R.D. The influence of concanavalin A and cytochalasin B on pinocytotic activity inAmoeba proteus . Protoplasma 106, 223–230 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01275554

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01275554

Keywords

Search

Navigation